What are they & why are they important?

In brief, baffles are designed to provide a channel of air to flow through specific parts of your attic. They are known are also known as wind baffle, insulation baffles, rafter vents or venting chutes. They are usually made from cardboard, or rigid foam board, or polyvinyl chloride. The beauty of attic baffles is that they are available from most home-improvement stores, and can be installed simply with a few staples if you want the DIY approach.

Surprisingly even the most well-insulated attic space may still require the assistance of attic baffles to provide the additional air circulation. The main function of an attic baffle is to draw the air in from outside your home, and allowing it to circulate around your attic. You can situate the baffles where the circulation is mainly required.

The importance of air circulation in your attic

Air circulation is crucial, especially in the attic. If you do not have sufficient air circulation you may be prone to the build-up of moisture which as a consequence results in mold and mildew problems, and that ‘musty’ smell we all relate to attics. However, we do specialize in these aspects of correct attic management, in terms of cleaning and insulation if you would like to know more. The other problem that you could encounter due to poor circulation and possibly improperly installed insulation is rotten wood and damage to the structural components of your attic. An attic baffle, along with correct insulation is designed to rectify or prevent these problems from occurring. They allow the air to circulate under or near the insulation.

Soffit Vents

Quite simply what it says on the tin, a soffit vent is a ventilation system. It allows stale air to pass freely to the outside of your home or an office building for example. These come in handy particularly in the summer months, as moisture can begin to build up in the attic, and can then be pushed back out through the soffit vent. It is a simple, yet functional design with the added bonus of keeping unwanted pests from entering your home. Soffit vents and baffles work in tandem together, and you will usually find attic baffles between the rafters, or the roof sheathing in order to create protection for the soffit vents.

So why install a baffle?

If you opt not to have an attic baffle you could potentially be leaving your home to additional debris and moisture to enter through the soffit vents. If this does happen, the soffit vents will not function as best as they should, and therefore supporting the formation of mold or fungi rather than preventing it. As we mentioned earlier, attic baffles are designed to be easily installed and can be done by yourself if you choose too. Or alternatively, you can hire an insulation or attic contractor such as ourselves.